July 18, 1976

26 schoolchildren and their bus driver Frank Edward Ray are reunited with their families in Chowchilla, Calif, after 36-hr kidnapping ordeal in which their bus was ambushed and they were imprisoned in underground makeshift cell from which they were able to escape; authorities broadcast all-points bulletin for 2 vans and 3 white men, 1 identified only as Jerry McClune; other suspects described; FBI agent Walter Weiner discloses that bur is withdrawing from case because Justice Dept officials have decided that there is no Fed jurisdiction at this time; Calif Gov Edmund Brown announces posting of $10,000 reward for arrest and conviction of kidnappers; Ray and several schoolchildren comment on ordeal; illus (L)

Tension increases in Moslem-controlled west Beirut, partly as result of US Embassy announcement that it is organizing another evacuation of foreign citizens and is 'strongly urging' all US citizens to leave; embassy official says 250 people, 1/2 of them Amer, have agreed to evacuate on July 20; says decision to evacuate was solely result of supply difficulties and not of any recent or impending change in mil and pol situation; leftist newspaper Al Moharrer repts that Christians, with help of Syria and US, are planning invasion of west Beirut; illus (M)

new Spanish Govt's promise of amnesty summarized (M)

dir Mel Brooks int; illus

formally opens Olympic Games (S)